[Hobjob]

The volunteer "market" can be a nasty place. In my daughter's experience
most of the agencies take 50% of the money; it is scandalous. They are
riding on the back of gap students with little life experience, and worried
Mums and Dads who want safety for their littleuns, which is understandable.

She found what she wanted by rolling up at the Dolphin Research Centre
and selling herself - but she did have a science degree, passion for marine mammals,
experience at photo-id that they needed, secretarial skills and good
computer literacy. She ended up doing a research based MSc, and getting
married!!

She is on the garden route in South Africa and can put you in touch with
several projects down that way - and warn you off a few too!

I am also aware of a Cheetah rehab place in Nambia that does both good work
and treats its volunteers fairly.

PM me for more info.

Wherever you go, talk to some ex-volunteers before committing yourself. There are some scams around.

I would echo some of the other concerns above too.

My personal experience of working in Africa is that it gets in your blood, but it can be a love hate relationship - great frustration is to be expected.

I understand that VSO is much more inclined to allow short term contracts that they used to be - it used to be 3 years minimum - but usually to those with some specific skill to give; building, medicine and allied professions, horticulture etc..

Have you any special skills to make yourself attractive to the other end?


Good luck